HARARE , Zimbabwe -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- With polls closed for a Zimbabwe runoff that opposition politicians and international observers call a sham , alleged torture victims who support former candidate Morgan Tsvangirai said Friday that they back his decision to pull out of the race .

Many of the injured being treated at a private hospital in Harare , Zimbabwe , asked not to be identified .

`` It 's a good move by my president , Morgan Tsvangirai , '' said a 26-year-old Movement for Democratic Change activist who said he was forced to stand on hot coals and had boiling water poured on him about a week ago . `` There 's no use going for an election . ''

The man , who displayed a large , pale , blistered patch on his back , asked not to be identified -- as did others being treated at a private hospital in Harare -- for fear of further attacks by gangs supportive of President Robert Mugabe .

All of the victims said they were taken to `` torture bases '' by the gangs , made up of young men and soldiers .

In the March 29 election , MDC officials said their polling showed Tsvangirai clearly defeating Mugabe , who at 84 is the only president Zimbabwe has had since it gained independence from Britain in 1980 .

But after delaying the release of results for more than a week , the country 's electoral commission -- which is made up of Mugabe appointees -- said that although Tsvangirai got more votes , he did n't top the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff .

MDC supporters had already reported violence against them by police , military members and other supporters of Mugabe 's Zanu-PF party . But in the weeks leading up to the runoff , the reports increased in frequency and intensity .

More than 70 people were killed in attacks since the election , according to the MDC . Mugabe 's supporters have claimed that those attacks were against his party members , a claim international observers , including the United Nations , have disputed . Watch victims say they were taken to torture camps ''

Tsvangirai and other party leaders were repeatedly arrested by police or detained on their way to political rallies . And reports of beatings and other intimidation tactics were common in areas where the MDC had made strong showings in the election .

`` Mostly for the rural people -- the police would come in for the Zanu-PF , so the area was very tense , '' said a municipal worker at the hospital , who said he was kicked and had burning plastic poured on his skin about three or four days ago . `` Everyone was beaten . Whether Zanu-PF or MDC . There was chaos in the country . ''

George Charamba , a spokesman for Mugabe , insisted that the vote was `` free and fair . ''

Charamba denied that any pressure was being used .

Asked about images from Zimbabwe showing what is reported to be violence against members of the opposition , he responded , `` I thought we are long past the age where we could consider pictures as not lying . It 's very , very easy for anyone to stage-manage a demonstration , and a violent one at that . ''

Last weekend , Tsvangirai withdrew from the runoff , saying there was no way the result would be legitimate . He has spent much of the time since living in the Dutch Embassy in Harare in fear for his safety .

Early Friday , the municipal worker said he was considering whether to heed Tsvangirai 's call for his supporters to not vote in the election , but the question may be moot . The gangs took his identification card and threw it into a fire , he said .

Another man and a woman treated for broken hands at the hospital said they were tortured and had boiling water poured on their genitals for being MDC supporters . The man said he was forced to drink sewage .

Meanwhile , Mugabe laughed and mugged for reporters from Zimbabwe 's state-run media as he cast his ballot at a high school .

`` Very optimistic , upbeat ... and hungry , '' he said when asked how he was feeling .

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Morgan Tsvangirai 's supporters back his withdrawal from runoff

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Some say they were taken to `` torture bases '' by supporters of Mugabe

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A man and a woman being treated for broken hands said they were tortured

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Mugabe laughed and mugged for reporters as he cast his ballot at a high school